07.09.2024

E4 e5 traps part 3

Chess is a game where every move counts, and even the initial moves can determine the course of the entire match. The moves 1.e4 and 1.e5 are among the most commonly used openings, leading players into well-known and solid paths. However, even in these classical positions, there are traps that can quickly end the game in favor of one of the players.

In the third part, we will examine some of these traps, analyzing both their mechanisms and the methods of defending against them.

1.Ruy Lopez: Noah's Ark Trap

To begin with, I would like to present a trap in the Ruy Lopez opening where we can quickly and easily exploit the opponent's inattentiveness to gain a piece early in the game. There isn't much to analyze here: after capturing the pawn with the queen, we play c4 regardless of where the queen moves. The only exception is if the queen goes to d5, in which case we need to develop the bishop to e6; otherwise, we risk losing the rook on a8.

Therefore, the best move instead of capturing the pawn with the queen is pushing the pawn to c3, which is a theoretical move. This attacks the vulnerable pawn, black captures, and we recapture with the knight, simultaneously developing it. Although black has a one-point advantage in the form of a pawn, the position is objectively equal.

2.Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit

The next trap is a rather popular mate in the Italian Game, which involves inaccuracies from both players. The position is very sharp and difficult, making it easy to make mistakes. In analyzing this trap, I would like to present a few noteworthy moves that do not lose the game, as well as those that do.

To begin with, let's consider the move knight to d4. Since we know that capturing the 'free pawn' is a mistake, let's try capturing the knight on d4 instead. Black, of course, recaptures the knight with the pawn, and then we can castle. Black responds with knight to f6 to attack the pawn, and we play rook to e1. White has a slight advantage because the opponent has doubled pawns, which are weakened.

When we have already gone after that pawn, and the queen moves to g5, we can play aggressively by sacrificing our piece. So, we castle, black captures the knight, and we gain the center with c3 and d4. The black queen moves to e7 to maintain pressure on the center. The position is quite tense because we have sacrificed a piece for a solid center, where even a tiny mistake can lead to a loss.

3.Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice Line

The next trap I would like to present is the Traxler Counterattack in the Fried Liver Attack. Objectively, this trap is not very sound, but the position is so sharp and challenging that it's easy to make mistakes, allowing us to win quickly. At lower levels, we can deliver a swift checkmate.

In this article, I would like to analyze the game depending on where the white king moves on the 7th move. Let's start by considering the move Kf3. The closer the king is to the center, the more exposed it is to attacks, which can result in checkmate. Therefore, we check the king with the queen on f6, sacrificing our knight. The king must capture it; otherwise, it leads to checkmate, for example, (8. Ke3 Qf4+ 9. Ke2 Qf2+ 10. Kd3 Nc5+ 11. Kc3 Qd4#). So, when the king captures the knight, we attack it again with a check - Qf4+. The king moves to d3, and we add another attacker, namely the d5 pawn. White must capture the pawn with the bishop, and then we check with the queen and recapture the piece, ending with a winning position.

If White moves the king to e3 as in the first variation, we play Qh4. The opponent might try to drive our queen away with g3. Then we can sacrifice another piece, which is the knight. When the opponent captures the knight, we check the king with the queen on d4, and the king moves to f3. It might seem tempting to capture the hanging bishop, but then White can capture our rook with the knight. Therefore, it is better to castle first, utilizing the pin on the king. White will temporarily defend the bishop with Rh4, but we can cover the entire fourth rank with e4+. White cannot capture the pawn because of Nxe5+, and the position is winning for Black. Thus, White moves the king to g2, and we can capture the bishop.

Another move White can make is Ke2, which is a huge mistake because we check the king with the knight from c6 to d4. If the king moves to d3, we have a fork on the king and queen with Nf2. If the king moves to e1, we have a strong move with Qh4, forcing White to block with the pawn on g3, which we then capture with the knight. The opponent recaptures, and we take the entire rook, forcing White to block with the bishop; otherwise, they lose the queen as well. If the opponent moves to f1, they also lose the queen because any other move results in checkmate in one. Therefore, White must play Qf3 to block the check, simultaneously exposing the queen to an attack by the knight.

If the king moves to e1, the same scenario as described above occurs. However, if White moves to f1, we play the queen to h4, threatening checkmate. Therefore, the opponent must play Qe1 to defend against it. We don't want to exchange queens, as that would result in a loss for Black, so we play Nf3. If White captures the knight with the queen or the pawn, we capture the bishop with check and then recapture the knight, regaining all the sacrificed pieces and gaining an extra pawn, while the opponent's king remains exposed.

Thank you for reading the third part of the traps after the moves 1.e4 e5. I also invite you to read my other articles.